Justification mechanism for linecasting machines



June 1, 1965 w. B. ABBOTT ETAL 3,186,538

JUSTIFICATION MECHANISM FOR LINECASTING MACHINES.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1' Filed March 5, 1963 R WW5 w T P N M? m V m m WM W LR .fl- Y B June 1, 1965 w. B. ABBOTT ETAL 3,186,538

JUSTIFICATION MECHANISM FOR LINECASTING MACHINES Filed March 5, 1963 r 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS WILLIAM B. Aaaovr By HERBE T EPPER f a RNE Y United States Patent D 3,186,538 JUSTIFICATION MECHANESM FOR LINECASTWG MACHlNES William B. Abbott, Pleasantvilie, and Herbert Klepper, Brooklyn, N.Y., assignors to Eltra Corporation, a cor poration of New York Filed Mar. 5, 1963, Ser. No. 263,039 7 Claims. (Cl. 199-51) This invention relates to a typographical linecasting machine of the general type disclosed in United States Patent No. 436,532 wherein a composed line of matrices and spacebands is assembled, transferred to a first elevator which lowers the line to casting position, justified between a pair of vise jaws and then locked up against the face of a slotted mold which is thereupon filled with molten metal to cast a slug or type bar against the justified line of matrices and spacebands. More specifically the invention relates to the justifying mechanism of such linecasting machines.

When the first elevator lowers the composed line to casting position between the vise jaws, the left hand vise jaw is positioned outwardly from its normal casting position by the vise jaw wedge. In this way it is assured that the composed line can be placed between the vise jaws without damaging the end matrices in the line. After the line is in the casting position the vise jaw wedge is actuated to move the left hand vise jaw to its justified line length position and the justification bar is moved into engagement with the depending wedges of the spacebands to drive them upwardly and thus expand the line to its justified length as determined by the setting of the vise jaws. In this initial or first justification the bar is raised while in a slightly canted position so that it engages the spacebands one at a time. This facilitates spreading the matrices to full justified line length since the arrangement is to engage the last spaceband in the line first thus causing only a few matrices at a time to be moved by the successive engagement of the justification bar with the spacebands.

The justification bar is then lowered out of engagement with the spaceband wedges and the vise jaw wedge is actuated to permit the left hand vise jaw again to move away from its justified line length position, thus relaxing pressure on the composed line. At this time the vertical and the face alignments of the matrices take place, both in a manner well known in the art.

After alignment of the matrices the left hand vise jaw is returned to its justified line position and the justification bar, now in a horizontal position so that all spacebands will be expanded equally, is raised to drive the spaceband wedges upwardly and thus tightly wedge the composed line between the vise jaws. The slug or type bar is then cast in the usual way and the matrices and spacebands subsequently distributed to the magazine and spaceband box respectively.

In the mechanical type justification apparatus, which is the only type heretofore used in commercial linecasting machines, the justification bar is carried by the vise frame and is pivotally connected to the ends of two separately operated vertical rods. The rods are supported for vertical movement in the vise frame and are actuated by levers that are controlled by cams located on the main cam shaft of the machine. It is this mechanism which controls the first canted rise of the justification bar and the subsequent horizontal rise of the bar during second justification.

7 While the foregoing arrangement has been completely satisfactory for present day machines, it has been found less than that when used in high speed machines that are presently under development and which have already been introduced on the market. The reason for ice this is that, in high speed machines, the increased speed of operation is achieved by increasing the speed at which the cam shaft rotates and consequently the speed at which the individual machine functions are performed. Since many of these functions are effected during a very short period of the machine cycle, the machine actions become very abrupt at high machine speeds. Typical of such functions is the justification operation. Thus, the justification bar is very abruptly caused to rise in a mechanical justification device operating at high speed with the result that it violently strikes the spaceband wedges and drives them upwardly with excessive force. Damage can thereby be done, not only to the spacebands, but to the machine itself.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved mechanism whereby the aforementioned difficulties can be obviated.

In carrying out the invention there is provided a hydraulically actuated ram on which the justification bar is mounted in such a way that it is canted when moved upwardly during the first justification, but is in a horizontal position when moved upwardly during the second justification.

Features and advantages of the invention may be gained from the foregoing and from the description of a preferred embodiment of the invention which follows.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a rear elevational view of the vise frame of a linecasting machine with parts removed to better show the improved justification apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic representation of the hydraulic system for operating the justification mechanism of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a rear view of the vise frame and components carried thereby of a linecasting machine. The view is taken from the casting mechanism side of the frame and it is illustrated with a composed line which has just undergone justification between the vise jaws.

The vise frame itself comprises a large, basically flat, casting 10 which is pivotally supported on a shaft 11 carried by the base of the machine. The frame is .provided with a vise cap 13 through which, at each end thereof, pass vise locking screws which terminate in earns 14. The cams enter into vise locking studs on the machine frame and when rotated by handles (not shown) secured to the end of the screws lock the vise frame to the machine. To open the vise frame to make the various parts carried thereby accessible it is only necessary to counter-rotate cams 14 and lower the vise frame on its pivot, i.e., shaft 11.

The vise cap 13 is the member which carries the vise jaws 17 and 18 in a longitudinal groove provided in the rear of the cap.

Jaw 18 is generally known to those familiar with the art as the right hand jaw and it is fixedly mounted on the vise frame 10. The left hand jaw 17 is adjustably mounted on the vise frame so that it can be spaced variable distances from the right hand jaw so as to provide slugs or type bars of different justified lengths. The adjustment of the casting position of jaw is effected through lead screw 20, which is rotated by a crank 21 and which passes through a threaded follower block 22 which is The vise cap 13 also supports the first elevator when it is lowered to place a composed line of matrices and spacebands in casting position between vise jaws 17 and 18. The elevator rides in gibs (not shown) provided on the outer surface of the vise frame and its descent is arrested by the abutment of an adjustable stop 26 consisting of a screw and nut on the top of the first elevator. A second screw 27 is also provided on the first elevator to operate the vise automatic when the elevator descends. The adjustment of screws 26 and 27 and the operation of the vise automatic are wellknown to those skilled in the art and will not be discussed here except to say that these. elements respectively control the register of the matrices carried by the first elevator with the mold disk and theavoidance of damage to the matrices if proper register is not effected.

Also provided on the vise frame are the mold disk stud locking blocks 30 and 31. While block 30 is fixed to the frame by dowels 32 and screws 33, block 31, called the floating block, is allowed to have a slight motion horizontally. These blocks serve to align whatever mold is in use at the time by cooperating with studs on the horizontal diameter of the front surface of the mold disk when the disk is advanced for the casting or ejectment of a slug.

Attention is now directed to the justification bar 35 and its actuating mechanism. As has been previously explained, the practice in the art is to complete justification in two distinct'stages or upward drives of bar 35. During the first drive, the justification bar is in canted position to facilitate the spreading of the lineto its full justified width. During the second drive, bar 35 is in horizontal position and, therefore, it drives all of the spaceband' Wedges equally to assure perfect justification.

The justification bar is piyotally mounted on a pin 36 extending between the two spaced apart upstanding arms of a supportmember 38. V The other end of bar 35 is provided with an elongated slot 40 that cooperates with a second pin 41. extending between the other two arms-42 and 43 of member 38. The support member 38, in turn, is bolted to a plate 45 that is guided for sliding movement by a pair of restraining rails 46 which are secured to the rear surface of the vise frame casting 10.

The power means for driving the support member and V the justification bar 35 upwardly and downwardly during justification of a line comprises a cylinder 49 and piston device in which the piston 50 is connected to the support member'by a rod51. The end of rod 51 is threaded and an abutment nut 52 is positioned thereon. A jam nut 53 is also provided on the rod to lock nut 52 in its adjusted position. In this position a ledge 55 formed on support member 38 will rest on nut 52 with the result that justification bar 35, support member 38, and plate 45 are all supported in a vertical direction by the piston rod 51. Nut 52 has a threaded stud 56 inserted therein and this stud passes through an open slot 58 in ledge 55. 'A locking nut 60 is provided to securely clam-p member 38 to rod 51. It is believed obvious that by varying the position of nut 52, the throw of member 38 and the justification bar 35 can be adjusted.

The cylinder 49 terminates at its upper end in a fitting block 62 which is screwed to a bracket shaped part 63 of the vise frame casting. A nylon covered screw threaded into part 63 serves as a buffer for plate 45 to limit its in the cylinder. Fittings 64 and 65 provided at the upper andthe lower ends of the cylinder respectively connect the cylinder to the fluid power source which actuates the piston. The fluid system willbe described at a later part of the specification.

' It remains to be described how the justification bar is downward movement and prevent bottoming of piston 50 first canted and then level or horizontal during a justification operation. Towards this end'attention is directed particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. As its free end justification bar 35 is provided with an arcuate niche 67 which cooperates with a disk 69 slideably mounted on support member 38. The disk is formed at one end of a rod 70 which has a button 71 formed at its other end. Rod 70 passes through an aperture 73 in member 38 which, together with the piston like button 71in its cylindrical opening 74, guides the diskin its sliding movement. A compression spring 76 placed between button '71 and the. bottom of opening 73 urges the disk to its limiting position (FIG. 2 determined by the engagement of collar 78 with the sidewall 79 of'mernber 38. In this position, disk 69 is located under the surface of shoulder 80 and supports the justification bar 35 in a horizontal position for the second stage of justification.

When button 71 is depressed against the action of spring 76, the disk is moved rearwardly (to the left in FIGS. 2 and 3), out'from under shoulder 80, thereby permitting the justification bar to pivot downwardly about pin 36 and assume a canted position. The means for so depressing button-71 is the plunger.82 slideably mounted in a bushing 83 formed on the vise frame casting 10. The plunger is biased to a non-active position by a compression spring 84 acting between bushing 83 and the cap nut 85 provided at the end of the plunger. A pin 86 is provided to determine the non-active position of the plunger. A cam 90 fastened to the first elevator slide 25 by screws 92 is the actuating means for plunger 82.

It is obvious that further means have to be provided to restore bar 35 to a horizontal position from "a canted position so that Spring 76 .can restore disk 69 to a supporting position under shoulder 80. This means takes the form of a leaf spring 95 fastened to stud locking block 39 by the screws 96. The spring frictionallyengages the end of justific'ation bar 35 when the latter is lowered between the two stages of justification. Bar .35 is pulled free of the spring'when pin 41 engages the bottom of slot40. The resultis to permit'disk 69 to slide from its rearward (leftward in FIG. 3) position to its forward position (FIG. 2) and thus support bar 35 in a horizontal position preparatory to the second stage of justification taking place.

Reference is now made to FIG. 6 which schematicallyshows the hydraulic circulation system employed for actuating the justification bar. A continuously driven pump draws the hydraulic fluid from a tank or reservoir 101- and feeds it underpressure to line 102, through solenoid operated valve 103 to lines 104 and 105. Line 104leads tofitting 64 on'cylinder 49 and acts to drive piston 50 downwardly until it is arrested by the engagement of platey45 and buffer 107 (-FIG. 2). Line leadstoa relatively low pressure relief valve 108 which, after piston 50 is driven down as far as it will go, permits the circulating hydraulic fluid to return to reservoir 101. When the justification bar is to be raised as determined byjustification cam; and actuatingswitches (not shown) which in turn control the energization of solenoid 106, the fluid under pressure in line 102 is directed to line 109 and fitting 65 which conducts the fluid to the chamber below the piston, thereby raising the justification bar. The fluid above the piston is returned to reservoir 101 by way of line 104, valve 103 and line110. When the justification bar engages spaceband wedges with a predetermined force, the further build-up of pressure in cylinder 49 is prevented by relief the one disclosed and claimed in U.S.-Patent No. 2,806

justification mechanism since the two operate alternative- .of matrices and spacebands into the vise, the justification bar will be in a lowered position determined by the engagement of plate 45 and buffer 1'97. The justification bar will be in canted position and button 71 will be aligned with plunger $2. The first elevator will be in a raised position awaiting the delivery of a line thereto and cam 90 will be located above plunger 82.

Now when a line is delivered to the first elevator and the elevator descends, cam fit) will depress plunger 82 to engage button 71 and slide disk 69 out from under shoulder 80 thus allowing the justification bar to assume a canted position. It was assumed that the bar was already in this position but in the event that it were not, the operation would be as described.

The elevator descends until stop 26 rests on the vise cap 13, the vise automatic will have been operated and the toes of matrices will align with the grooves 114 formed in the mold 115 carried by the mold disk 116 which is advanced to the position shown in FIG. 1.

The vise closing lever (not-shown but well known in the art) then rises, allowing the vise jaw wedge spring 119 to actuate the wedge 23 and move the left hand jaw to its prescribed position. The cam switch causes valve 103 to be operated with the result that justification bar 35 is carried upwardly to effect the first justification while in canted position. Thebar is then lowered and the vise jaw wedge is actuated to relieve pressure on the line so that'vertical alignment and face alignment can take place.

As the justification bar is lowered it is engaged by spring 95 which raises it to a horizontal position allowing disk 69 to move to a supporting position under shoulder 80. Now when bar 35 is raised to effect the second or final justification it will be in the prescribed horizontal position.

After descent of bar 35 from its second justification operation, spring ,95 will have no effect since the bar is already in a horizontal position. The bar will, however, be lowered until button '71 is aligned with plunger 82 and when the first elevator is raised to carry the matrices and spacebands to the transfer channel for distribution, cam 90 will depress plunger 82 to slide disk 69 out from under shoulder 80 thereby permitting bar 35'to assume a canted position.

Inasmuch as many changes and variations can be made to the preferred embodiment of the invention disto be raised and lowered during a first justification operation and to be raised and lowered during a second justification operation, and means for causing said bar to be canted during the first justification operation and horizontal during the second justification operation, said last named means comprising a member rigidly connected to said hydraulic means for pivotally supporting one end of said justification bar, a movable element carried by said supporting member'and spring biased to support said justification bar in a horizontal position, a slideable member carried by the vise frame, cam means mounted on the first elevator to engage the slideable member and slide it into engagement with the spring biased movable element, and means secured to the vise frame for engaging the free end of the justification bar to restore it to a horizontal position as the justification bar is lowered after the first justification operation.

2. Justification apparatus according to claim ll wherein said hydraulic means comprises a single hydraulic cylinder and piston.

3. In a typographical linecasting machine wherein a composed line of matrices and spacebands is positioned by a first elevator between a pair of vise jaws carried by a vise frame and justified, justification apparatus comprising, in combination, a justification bar, bracket means to which one end of said bar is pivotally connected, means for actuating said last named meansduring each machine cycle to cause said justification bar to be raised and lowered during a first justification operation and to be raised and lowered during a second justification operation, a spring biased member mounted on said bracket means for supporting the free end of said bar in a hori-' zontal position, plunger means carried by said vise frame andaligned with said member when the justification bar is in its lowered position, cam means carried by the first elevator for actuating said plunger member to move said spring biased member out of supporting position whereby said justification bar assumes a canted position, and means carried by the vise frame for engaging the free end of said bar when said bar is lowered after the first justification operation to cause said member to be biased to a supporting position.

4. Justification apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the actuating means for raising and lowering the justification bar is hydraulically operated.

5. In a typographical linecasting machine wherein a first elevator positions .a composed line of matrices and spacebands between a pair of vise jaws carried by a vise frame prior to justification and casting, justification apparatus comprising a justification bar pivotally mounted for movement between a horizontal and a canted position, supporting bracket means to which said bar ispivotally mounted, hydraulic means for raising and lowering said bar and bracket means, means for actuating saidhydraulic means during each machine cycle to cause said bar to be raised and lowered during a first ustification operation and to be raised and lowered duringa second justification operation, means operable by the first elevator when it positions a composed line between the vise jaws for causing the justification bar to assume a canted position, and means fixedly mounted on the vise frame for restoring the justification bar to a horizontal position when the justification bar is lowered after the first justification operation is completed so that the second justification operation is effected with the bar in a horizontal position.

6. Justificationapparatus according to claim 5 including a movable member mounted on said bracket means that is spring biased to support the justification bar in a horizontal position.

7. Justification apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said first elevator operated means includes plunger means mounted on the vise frame that is aligned with the movable member when the justification bar is in its lowered position and a cam mounted on the first elevator which actuates said plunger means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 4,958,401 5/34 Turner 19951 2,864,490 12/58 Rossetto 199-51 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT E. PULFREY, WILLIAM B. PENN,

Examiners. 

1. IN A TYPOGRAPHICAL LINECASTING MACHINE WHEREIN A COMPOSED LINE OF MATRICES AND SPACEBANDS IS PRESENTED TO A CASTING MOLD AND JUSTIFIED BETWEEN A PAIR OF VISE JAWS, JUSTIFICATION APPARATUS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A JUSTIFICATION BAR HYDRUALIC MEANS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING SAID BAR, MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID HYDRAULIC MEANS DURING EACH MACHINE CYCLE TO CAUSE SAID JUSTIFICATION BARTO BE RAISED AND LOWERED DURING A FIRST JUSTIFICATION OPERATION AND TO BE RAISED AND LOWERED DURING A SECOND JUSTIFICATION OPERATION, AND MEANS FOR CAUSING SAID BAR TO BE CANTED DURING THE FIRST JUSTIFICATION OPERATION AND HORIZONTAL DURING THE SECOND JUSTIFICATION OPERATION, SAID LAST NAMED MEANS COMPRISING A MEMBER RIGIDLY CONNECTED TO SAID HYDRAULIC MEANS FOR PIVOTALLY SUPPORTING ONE END OF SAID JUSTIFICATION BAR, A MOVABLE ELEMENT CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER AND SPRING BIASED TO SUPPORT SAID JUSTIFICATION BAR IN A HORIZONTAL POSITION, A SLIDEABLE MEMBER CARRIED BY THE VISE FRAME, CAM MEANS MOUNTED ON THE FIRST ELEVATOR TO ENGAGE THE SLIDABLE MEMBER AND SLIDE IT INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SPRING BIASED MOVABLE ELEMENT, AND MEANS SECURED TO THE VISE FRAME FOR ENGAGING THE FREE END OF THE JUSTIFICATION BAR TO RESTORE IT TO A HORIZONTAL POSITION AS THE JUSTIFICATION BAR IS LOWERED AFTER THE FIRST JUSTIFICATION OPERATION. 